Method of making motion-pictures.



L. s. BRAINERD. METHOD OF MAKING MOTION PICTURES.

, v APPLICATON HLED IAN- 18. 1915- 7 1,296,471 Patented Mar. 4, 1919 QOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD A emcee/000000 oooovooo md ,Methods of Making rim 7 "En s'r rrEs PATENT OFFICE.

Luna s. :BaArNERD, or MERIDEN, conunc'rrcur.

METHOD OF MAKING MOTION-PICTURES ance which. involves and includes the de-' picting which the movements of human figures are imitated and simulated, displaying such representations in seemingly impossible positions, and then by a continuity of movement and action carrying on the theme and story by moving picture actors.

In this manner and by-this method, I efiect a joinder of duction and bring about a connected and complex story by interweaving each other. -The order and relationship can be changedand the first part of the story can be told by moving pictures taken from living actors and can be taken up at the proper time andplace by the cartoons; in carry ing my invention into practical effect, I produce surprising and amusing results. I will proceed to describe one method of carrying; invention into effect and in order to render plain, I will explain it in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 shows means and instrumentalities employed by me for securing the desired film from which the final picture is projected on the screen for exhibition puroses; this is a perspective view and em- Braces the camera and various essential properties and apparatus. i

Fig. 2, is a vertical section to a larger scale of the apparatus employed by mefor securing the difi'erent phases of display and transferring them tothe slngle continuous film, as will be more fully explained.

Fig. 3, is a detail view of a clutch employed for carrying my invention. into efect.

Fig. 4:, discloses the manner of feeding the cartoons past the camera shutter-in the act and process of being photographedupon the continuous negative lm. 4

Fig. 5, illustrates the'resultant film show- Specification of Letterslatent.

of'cartoons 1n quick succession, in

these two phases of pro-,

.scene which the the explanation clear and mediately behind thisis 4 and in operating position in Fig. 2;

Patented Mar. 41, 1919.

Application filed January 18, 1915. Serial No. 2,894. v

the story of the play or drama is ing how from one phase of display bridged across to the other anddisclosing a continuous and artistic development whereby the final display upon the screen will be rendered effective and the illusion sustained.

In these drawings A represents a camera similar to those employed in taking moving picture films; for this reason I need not explain it 1n detail as its construction and method of operation is well known in the art; the lens and the details immediate thereto is shown at B; a shutter at C.

The film is shown at D; this film is mounted upon and its movements are controlled by the regular unwinding and winding up apparatus E and F as now generally employed and whose details I need not particularly explain; but I will here say that I make only such changes in the regular commercial apparatus as is necessary to,

carry my invention into effect.

Referring to camera is taking asjapart of a moving picture drama. At H is shown a living moving picture actor sitting at a sewing machlne J.

At K is a dummy figure and at L, M, N areimplements of the dressmakers art. '0 is a window disclosing. scenery beyond. At'P is a movable frame having a square opening Q and imthe camera A. The camera receives the light reflected from the scene G through the opening Q and I utilize this same space to place the cartoons B when the latter are to be substituted for the real images and objects. The cartoon carrier is shown at 1 in Fig. the carrier may be operated by means of the lever S pivotedat sin a sliding block 3 and having finger s ings in the cartoon carrier and pulling it down by the rotation of the arm 8 to which it is pivoted this latter being mounted on the drum 8* and receiving its motion through chain 8 from the drum T. The drum T rotates on center T in direction of arrow and carries corresponding arm t to lever t the latter pivoted at t to sliding block t having finger t which latter is adapted to enter the registering openings in the film D. The center T is provided with clutch member U intermeshing with clutch member U governed by lever U Fig. 1 at G, I show aregistering withthe open-- and reducing it to a commercial proposition,

(it may be modified in various Ways andthe order of employment may be shifted so as to bring the cartoon display only at the end;

orit may be at both ends as explained; in other displays the cartoons may be introduced at one or more intermediate points, the object always being to maintain such a similarity in the position and appearance of the persons or objects photographed as to create in the mind of the spectator the impression .of continuity of movement and images. Amusing and seemingly impossible situations can be developed in this manner, but the similarity of the images depicted and the artistic method of merging them will lend suflicient realism to create the desired dramatic effect.

Previous to the taking of pictures, the operator can remove the slide V and by means of the lever V gear V and rack V move the lens B so that the moving scene will be focused upon the ground glass W, or that the cartoons will be so focused. Stop pins W can be so placed on a dial plate W that the movements of the lever V will be checked when moved to the position to cause said change of focus.

If desired also, removable cartoon cards shown by dotted line R in Fig. 2 can be placed in the receptacle X, thereby avoiding the necessity of moving the cartoon carrier R.

Having thus described my invention, the following is What I claim as new and useful therein and. desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The methodof producing motion picture films that consist in placing animate objects and pictures of inanimate objects successively in the same line of reflection to a moving picture camera in operatlon, and one picture after another in front of the camera whereby the pictures of the inanimate objects and of the animate objects one following the other are produced in the same field upon the film in the camera.

2'. The method of making motion picture pictures in rapid succession between a camera and a stage setting including living actors, and in removing the cartoons from the range of the camera while continuing the operation of the latter-to produce pictures from said stage setting.

4. The method of making moving picture films that consists in producing separately but along the same line of reflection to a moving picture camera, pictures of animate objects, and successive pictures of cartoons of inanimate objects.

5. The method of producing motion picture films that consists in placing animate objects and pictures movably operated of inanimate objects successively'in the same line of reflection to a moving picture camera in substantially continuous operation, and in producing a movement of such pictures in rapid succession in front of the camera whereby the pictures of the inanimate objects and the animate objects, one following the other areproduced in the same field .upon the film in the camera.

LURA s. BRAINERD.

lVitnesses: i I

HERBERT KNIG T, ALFRED S. Fox. 

